silence
A/N: Here it is, the last chapter. I can't believe this story is finished. Thank you to everyone who's been reviewing, PMing, who has favorited and followed. Now let's get into the chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers.
Chapter Twenty
The next few weeks are filled with change. The queen's letter had caused quite a stir among the royal advisors. It was ruled that the letter would be taken as the queen's official renunciation of her royal status. The advisors had asked Kimberly if she wanted to take over as queen, or the advisors to take over. She didn't know what to do. She had no idea how to be queen. But she was sure that her mother wanted her to take over: 'the kingdom is your responsibility now.' Fortunately, the advisors gave her some time to think it over.
In other news, Kat had left her room as Jason's sister had been defeated. She missed her friend's presence, as nice as it was to have her room to herself again. She still visited the guards in their quarters, spending most of her time down there. What time wasn't spent in the guards' quarters, was spent in the castle's library, making up for the two months she had lost. She visited Jason in the infirmary every chance she got. She ate breakfast and dinner there with him, wanting to be there when he did wake up. One night after eating her dinner in the infirmary, she falls asleep in the chair.
He blinks his eyes open to the lights of the infirmary. There's a hand in his, and he hears light snoring. He looks down to see a head of hair, and a manicured hand holding his. He squeezes their hand, the person sitting up. The princess blinks her eyes rapidly, "Jason, you're awake?"
She laughs, grabbing his face with both her hands. "You shouldn't be here. If the queen-
"She's gone," she cuts him off, "she's abdicated the throne. There's nothing in our way now. That is… if you still feel the same."
She starts to pull away, but he grabs her arm. "I still feel the same."
He pulls her down for a kiss, for the first time kissing her without fear. Without fear of what the queen would do. Without fear of his sister's attempts on their lives. They pull away slowly to savor the moment. She rests her forehead against his, stroking his cheek with her thumb, "I missed you."
"I missed you too. I thought I'd never see you again after our night together. And then my sister-"
"Ssh. We don't have to talk about that." She rests her head on his chest, and he pets her head. "I never want to be away from you again."
He shushes her, inviting her to join him in bed. She does so without question, climbing underneath the blanket. They lay there in a comfortable silence for several minutes. Until… "I have something to talk to you about."
"Okay." They both sit up, while still having their arms around each other.
"The royal advisors have offered me an out on becoming queen. But my mom said she wanted me to take over as queen. And I-"
"You don't know what to do." He finishes for her.
"I don't. For as long as I can remember, I've resented being a princess. I don't know if I can be queen."
He grabs her face, forcing her to look at him. "Hey, you would make a great queen. You don't have to be like your mother. But… whatever you decide I will support you."
"Thank you." She leans up to kiss him, wrapping her arm around his neck.
Suddenly, someone clears their throat rather loudly, startling them both. Dr. Campbell stands there, staring at them. They're both blushing, and Kimberly scrambles out of his bed. "Dr. Campbell, how much did you see?"
"More than I wanted to. And I would've left you alone, but I wanted to make sure you had fully healed."
"I thought he was okay. I mean, he's awake."
"Yes he is. But I would still like to examine him."
"Right. I'll um be outside."
After getting cleared by Dr. Campbell, Jason gets up from the bed. Dr. Campbell wheels him out into the hallway, where the princess is patiently waiting. He stands up, wrapping his arms around her. Dr. Campbell clears her throat loudly again to get them to pull apart.
"If you two could keep your hands off of each other, there's something I want to tell you. No strenuous activity," her eyes darted between the two of them, the message clear, "just take it easy for a few weeks. There may still be some after effects of your sister's spell to be mindful of. I'll be seeing you next week."
"Thank you, Dr. Campbell. For everything."
"Don't mention it." They all turn around to walk away. "Oh and Jason about the gem. Keep an eye on that, your sister's a very powerful witch and if that kind of power falls into the wrong hands-"
"Don't worry, Dr. Campbell. Nothing's going to happen to this gem as long as I'm living and breathing."
"Good answer. Goodnight you two. And remember-"
"Take it easy. I got it."
She looks at herself in the mirror one last time, attempting to quell her nerves. She rubs her stomach with a sigh. It wouldn't be long now before even the dress she was wearing wouldn't fit her. (And this was much looser than the usual dresses she would wear.) She then touches the top of her head, which would soon be adorned with a crown. She sighs again, putting her hand back down by her side.
The door opens, and she's unable to fight the smile that comes to her face. "I thought I wasn't going to see you before the ceremony."
"I might have convinced Kat to let me walk with you instead." He's already right behind her, his breath warm on her neck.
"Might have?" She jokes, turning around to look at him, her smile growing bigger.
"Well, she wasn't exactly opposed to the idea. It gives her more time to spend with Tommy. And I have more time with you." He kisses her forehead, which only leaves her wanting more. Unfortunately, there's a knock at the door.
She sighs, "come in."
Billy opens the door, popping his head inside. "It's almost time."
Billy leaves, but leaves the door open. Kimberly inhales, her nervousness returning. Jason grabs her hand. "Are you ready?"
"Yes. I'm just-"
"Hey hey, you're going to be okay. You are going to be great." He kisses her forehead again. "Now, let's do this."
Her coronation seems to go by in a blur. The only thing she clearly remembers is how heavy the crown is on her head. After the coronation, there's a photoshoot. On some level, she wants this to be over. She's always hated the formalities of being royalty, especially the photo ops (which was one of the few things she and her mother had ever agreed on.) And she may be dirty minded, but she wanted to be alone with Jason. Dr. Campbell had finally cleared him for sex last week, but with preparing for her coronation keeping her busy, they hadn't had much alone time.
The photoshoot finally comes to an end, and she has to stifle a sigh of relief. They head to her room, relaxing the last thing on her mind. Apparently, it's the last thing on his mind as well, as he grabs her in a kiss before they've even closed the door. She squeals into his mouth, wrapping one arm around his shoulders, removing her crown with the other. But he pulls away far too soon for her liking. He says against her lips, "I've been wanting to do that all day."
"Me too. Just um let me put my crown down, it's a little heavy."
"Weak." He teases, as she puts her crown away. She hits him on his chest, and he grabs her by the waist. He kisses her again, hungry and wanting.
After their lovemaking, they both lie together with his arms around her, and him kissing her shoulder. "Mhmm that feels nice."
He laughs into her shoulder, sending chills through her body. "There actually is something I want to talk to you about."
She mumbles a response, far too content to form a coherent sentence or thought. "I'm serious."
He unwraps his arms from around her, supporting himself on his elbows. She rolls over, looking at him. "What is it?"
"This may sound weird, but I've been thinking… I think we should get married."
"We're already married, Jason."
"I know. I guess I meant we should have another wedding. I'm sure our first was not exactly what you had imagined."
"Actually, it wasn't that far off." He raises an eyebrow. "I'd always thought my mom would force me into a marriage with some stuffy prince. And she did force me into a marriage, only it was to a guard and I actually fell in love with him."
She touches his cheek, feeling his scar beneath the palm of her hand. He touches her hand. "It shouldn't be like that. I want to give you a wedding beyond your dreams."
He moves her hand to his lips, kissing her palm. "You don't have to do that."
"I know, but I want to." He kisses her chastely, before reaching to turn the lamp off.
As she snuggles into her lover for the night, for the first time since she could remember, she was really truly happy. With no fear that someone would come and snatch her happiness away at any moment. Without her mother's controlling ways for the first time in her life, she could be happy with the man she loves and soon her child.
the end.